Mortician and ambulance cot



T S .1 0 o R Q FL MAT m W H mm 2. mm mm E mm v ow N w m .& w s v m m 62. fit. .m E W M B Jan. 3, 1939. B. E. SCHMIDT MORTICIAN AND AMBULANCECOT I Filed Nov. 17, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 3, 1939. B. E. SCHMIDTMORTICIAN AND AMBULANCE COT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 17, 1956ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE 4 Claims.

This invention appertains to a mortician and ambulance cot, and moreparticularly to a novel device for facilitating the handling andcarrying of bodies incident to the preparation thereof for 5 burial.

Great difficulty is often experienced in taking a body from a home to. amorticians establishment for embalming, and for caring for the bodyduring the various embalming steps. It frequentl ly'happens thatstairways will be encountered which are extremely steep and having sharpturns, rendering use of an ordinary cot or stretcher impossible. All ofthe present day equipment with which I am familiar falls short of theactual requirements of a mortician, and the body has to be handled andmoved from one table or appliance to another a number of times.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide a cot, in whichthe body can be readily transported from a home, or a hospital, to themorticians establishment, and which can thereafter be used as anembalming table, a cooling, drying and dressing board, whereby the bodycan be eifectively cared for without undue han- 30 dling from the homeon up to the time when the same is placed in the casket.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide a morticians cotembodying a wheeled cart, and a removable tray fitted therein, the trayacting in the nature of a stretcher for initially receiving the body,and thereafter as a washing, cooling, and dressing board, and anembalming table.

A further important object of my invention is to provide a morticianscot embodying a wheeled cart for receiving the body-supporting tray,which can be easily handled by one man even going down a steep stairwayhaving sharp turns, the cart being of such a construction that the samecan be pushed like a wheel-barrow, or pulled like a coaster wagon.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a caster wheel atthe front of the cart for facilitating the guiding of the cart, withmeans operable from the rear end of the cart for holding the casterwheel against swinging movement so as to facilitate the wheeling of thecart up and down narrow, steep stairways having sharp turns.

5 A further object of my invention is the provision of a wheeled carthaving novel handles arranged at the opposite ends thereof, whereby thecart can be pulled or pushed, and whereby the cart can be bodily raisedinto an ambulance, hearse, or the like.

A further important object of my invention is the provision of novelmeans for arranging the front handle on the cart whereby the same can bepulled outwardly from the cart to facilitate the'pulling of the cartover relatively long dis- 5 tahces.

A still further object of my invention is to. provide a device of theabove character, which can be effectively used for other purposes thanmorticians Work, suchas the handling of per- 10 sons in hospitals,particularly from a sick room to the operating room, and back.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of theabove character, which will be durable and eificient in use, one thatwill be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed uponthe market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novelconstruction, arrangement, and formation of parts, as will behereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved device, with parts thereofbroken away and in section.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the improved device.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the removable tray.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail transverse section through the devicetaken substantially on the line 4--4 of Figure 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows. 0

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail section through 4 the tray takensubstantially on the line 55 of Figure 1, looking in the direction ofthe arrows, illustrating the novel head-rest.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view through the forward end ofthe cart or cot, il-

, lustrating the novel means of mounting the front ward end of the cart,illustrating the lock for the caster wheel.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,the letter D generally indicates my improved device, and the sameembodies a wheeled carrier l5 on which is removably mounted an elongatedbasket It. The basket, in turn, detachably receives therein the tray ITfor the body.

The cart |5 includes a framework preferably formed from steel tubing,which can be treated in any desired manner to give the same a finishedappearance which will be appealing to the eye. This steel tubing is bentto form side rails l8 and IS, a connecting arcuate rear end rail 20, anda front arcuate rail 2|. The side rails l8 and i9 gradually convergetoward the front or foot end of the cart. Welded or otherwise secured tothe side rails l8 and I9, adjacent to the rear or head end of the cart,are depending brackets 22 for receiving the transversely extending axle23 for the ground wheels 24.

The front rail 2| has rigidly secured thereto in any desired manner abracket 25 for the caster wheel 26. This caster wheel is rotatablymounted on an axle carried by a U-shaped fork 21. The upper end of thefork 21 carries a bearing sleeve 28, rotatably mounted on a spindle 23,secured to the bracket 25. Suitable roller or ball bearings 30 areinterposed between the lower end of the spindle 29 and the bearingsleeve 28. The bearing sleeve 28 has formed therein a :eeper opening 3|,the purpose of which will be later set forth. The three wheels of thecart can be provided with rubber tires preferably of the pneumatic type,so as to lessen the noise during the moving of the cart from one placeto another.

The side rails l8 and H! of the frame of the cart have riveted orotherwise secured thereto handles 32, which can be of the pistol griptype. The front end of the cart is provided with a handle 33, which willbe later described in detail. It is to be noted, however, that thehandles 32 and 33 are advantageously disposed so as to permit the bodilylifting of the cart into and out of ambulances, hearses, and the like.The hand grips 32 likewise facilitate the wheeling of the cart fromplace to place, and the cart can be manipulated similar to awheel-barrow. Hence, the cart will be easy to manipulate around sharpturns, and down steep Stairways.

In some cases, such as going down steps, it is highly advantageous tohold the caster wheel against swinging movement. Hence, I provide aswinging latch lever 34, which is adapted to engage in the keeperopening 3| formed in the caster yoke. This swinging latch lever 34 ispivotally mounted on a shaft 35 rockably mounted on ears 35, whichdepend from the bracket 25 for the caster wheel. A leaf spring 31 isutilized for normally urging the latch lever toward the sleeve 28 andinto the keeper opening. Means is provided whereby the latch lever canbe manipulated from the rear end of the cart, and this means includes apull cord 38. This pull cord 38 is threaded through openings 38 formedin the tubular frame, and is extended through one side rail of the frameto one hand grip 32. This hand grip 32 has rockably mounted therein anoperating lever 40, to which the cable 38 is secured. Obviously, byswinging down on the lever 40, the latch lever 34 will be moved awayfrom the sleeve 28 against the tension of the spring 31.

The latch lever can be held in this depressed position by a spring latchplate 4|, shown in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings. The edge of thespring latch plate 4| is preferably of a cam shape so as to facilitatethe riding of the lever 40 past the same and under the plate. The latchlever is sprung past the latch plate when it is desired to allow thesame to return to its normal position.

In some cases, the cart has to be moved over relatively great distances,such as in the corridors of hospitals, and the like. To permit the carto be pulled like a boys coaster wagon, the

front handle 33 is made detachable from the rent rail 2| of the frame.This handle 33 is of a substantially arcuate shape, and the same hasformed on its inner ends rearwardly extending arms 42, which areslidably received in bearing sleeves 43 fitted in the tubular frame ofthe cart. Secured to the inner ends of the arms 42 are elongated springstrips 44. These spring strips 4 extend longitudinally through the siderails 58 and H) of the frame, and have secured thereto discs 45, whichfit snugly against the inner walls of the side rails l8 and I9. When thehandle 33 is pulled away from the cart, the discs 45 will abut againstthe inner ends of the bearing sleeves 43, and thus prevent the pullingout of the strips from the frame beyond a predetermined point.Obviously, the strips will flex, and the handle 33 can be taken in thehand and the cart can be pulled similar to the pulling of a coasterwagon by a handle or rope.

To prevent the accidental sliding out of the handle, when the cart isbeing moved down a flight of steps, I provide a latch lever 46, which ispivoted as at 41 on the front rail 2|. The handle 3-3 has a keeper 48formed thereon for receiving the latch lever 46. A spring 49 normallyholds the latch lever in engagement with the keeper.

'It is to be noted that the handle 33 has formed thereon inwardlyextending lips 58, which engage under the front bar 2|, so that when thecart is lifted by the handle 33 part of the strain will be distributedto said front bar.

The basket I6 conforms tothe contour of the frame I5, and is removablymounted thereon. This basket includes a bottom wall 5|, and side and endwalls 52. These walls may be reinforced in any preferred way, and thesame are preferably formed from interlaced metal strips to give a basketwork or cane effect.

To prevent the shifting of the basket, the lower wall 5! has a groove 53around its margin, in which fits the side and end rails of the frame.The basket can be detachably locked in any desired way to the frame,and, if desired. headed pins 54 can be carried by the rails of the frameat spaced points for engaging in key-hole shaped openings in the bottomwall of the basket.

Obviously a corpse, or a patient, can be placed directlyin the basket,but I prefer to utilize the removable tray I! for supporting the body,so that the body will not have to be shifted from one point to another.

This tray likewise conforms closely to the outline of the cart, and thusthe same consists of converging side rails 55, and end rails 56. Towardthe head end of the tray a transversely extending ,rail 51 is provided,and this rail can be formed from angle iron, if so desired. A perforatedsheet metal'bottom plate 58 is secured to the rails 55, 56, 51, and thisplate terminates at the rail 51. Directly in rear of the rail I providea cross rod 59 on which is rockably mounted a back rest 66. This backrest 60 can include an open frame formed from angle iron covered by aperforated plate 6|. A head-rest 62 likewise can be provided, and thishead-rest is of a novel construction. The same is adjustably mounted onan arcuate rack bar 63, which slidably extends through a guide block 64carried by the frame of the back-rest. A pivoted spring-pressed latchdog 65 is utilized for engaging in the selected tooth of the rack bar tohold the head-rest in the preferred adjusted position. A thumb-piece 66can be provided for manipulating the pivoted dog 65.

When the body is placed on the tray, and the tray is then positioned inthe basket, the body and the tray are held by transversely extendingstraps 61 carried by the bottom wall of the tray, or connected to eyescarried by the side rails. These eyes can extend through openings in thewall of the basket. A shoulder strap 68 is likewise provided for thebody. The tray itself can be provided with removable straps for engagingthe arms of the corpse so that these arms will be held in place againstmovement during the carrying of the tray.

The tray can also be provided with various appliances utilized inundertaking establishments. Thus, adjustable arm rests and the like canbe mounted on the tray.

Due to the arcuate rack bar 63, the head-rest can be left on the tray atall times, in that the head-rest can be moved to an extreme lowered,out-of-the-way position.

Depending supporting feet 10 are mounted on the tray at spaced points sothat the tray can be placed on top of an embalming table or the like,with the perforated wall of the tray spaced from the table to permit afree circulation of air under the tray. The back rest 60 can be held inany preferred adjusted position by the use of pivoted arms H carried bythe frame of the back rest. These arms are in the nature of rack bars,and are adapted to engage over teeth 12 formed on certain of the legs orfeet 10. Manipulating pull chains 13 can be connected to the rack barsto facilitate manipulation thereof. The tray are of such character thatthe same can be used as an embalming table, a cooling board, a washingand drying board, and also as a dressing board. Thus, in actualpractice, after the body is lifted from a bed on to the tray, the samecan be left on the tray from then on until it is placed in the casket.This eliminates undue lifting and handling of the body.

In actual practice, a plurality of trays can be utilized with each cart,and thus if one tray is being utilized as an embalming table or thelike, another tray can be placed in the cart when another body is beingcalled for. In cases of emergency, a body can be placed directly in thebasket.

As heretofore mentioned, the device is particularly useful aroundhospitals for transferring patients from one point to another. The sameis also particularly useful in transporting a patient from his room toan operating table, and in this instance the patient does not have to beunnecessarily handled, in that the tray can be removed bodily from thecart and placed on the operating table.

The cart itself is also useful in transferring heavy caskets, and inthis instance the basket I6 is detached from the cart. As the cart isrelatively close to the ground, the caskets do not have to be lifted agreat distance.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit orscope of my invention, but what I claim as new is:

1. In a mortician and ambulance cot, a frame including hollow siderails, a pair of ground wheels carried by the rear end of the frame, acaster wheel carried by the front of the frame, hand grips carried bythe rear end of the frame, a latch for holding the caster wheel againstswinging movement, an operating lever mounted upon one of the handgrips, and means including a pull cord extending through one of the siderails operatively connecting the lever to the latch whereby said latchcan be actuated from the rear end of the frame.

2. In a mortician and. ambulance cot, a wheeled carrier including aframe having hollow side rails, hand grips rigidly secured to the rearend of the frame, a front hand grip releasably mounted on the frame,means locking the front hand grip into intimate contact with the frame,and pull straps connected with the handle and normally telescoped withinthe hollow side rails.

3. A mortician and ambulance cot comprising a wheeled carrier includinga tubular frame having hollow side rails and a front rail, hand gripsrigidly secured to the rear end of the tubular frame, an arcuate fronthandle detachably fitted against the front rail, depending flexiblestraps connected to the ends of the front hand grip slidably mountedwithin the hollow side rails of the tubular frame, means for limitingthe forward sliding movement of the straps, and a releasable latchnormally holding the arcuate hand grip against the front rail againstaccidental movement.

4. In a mortician and ambulance cot, a wheeled carrier comprising anopen frame including side rails and end rails, a removable basket havingits lower end inwardly offset to fit within the frame, said offsetdefining a marginal recess to receive the side and end rails, meansdetachably locking the basket to said rails, and a removable trayincluding a marginal frame, the frame being adapted to rest in thebasket directly above the side and end rails of the carrier frame.

BERNHARD E. SCHMIDT.

